Metal casting apparatus



I S. J. M CAIN Nov. 6, 1951 METAL CASTING I APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Oct. 22, 1948 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS s. J. MCCAIN Nov. 6, 1951 METAL CASTING APPARATUS 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 22, 1948 mm 6 IK INVENTOR. 6AM J.' Me (A/N ATTOlP/YEVS Nov. 6, 1951 5. J. MCCAIN v 2,573,857

. M ETAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Ocjz. 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet sINVENTOR. J. M 04 //V 7fimdmrmuhman ATTORNEYS S. J. M CAIN Nov. 6, 1951METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 67 FIG. 7

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INVENTOR. 5/1/14 1' Ma 0.4m

ATTORNEYS NOV. 6, 1951 A 5 J MCCAIN I 2,573,857

METAL CASTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 22, 19 48 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.64M .1 Mo 09/ Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STAT- r parlor:

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for separating the casting fromthe sand and the mold.

An object of the invention is the provision of a shake-out apparatus inwhich a pair of tracks guide carriages for supporting a shake-out devicearound an annular path where stations are indicated for performing anumber of operations, one of the tracks having a short movable sectionadapted to be raised at the shake-out station when arms are elevated fortilting the usual mold board for separating the sand mold and castingfrom each other and from the mold board, the flask and mold board beingheld against displacement from the carriage during the dumping action.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a shake-out devicefor a molding apparatus in which the device is carried along an annularpath when molding, pouring, cooling and shake out stations areestablished, the shake-out device including a post suspended from a'carriage guided by a track outlining the path for supporting a hollowmold seat upon which is mounted a tiltable mold board, an elevated beammounted on the post having springs depending therefrom for controllingoscillation of a frame rockable on the post and retained againstmovement by a latch which is released during thelifting of a means fortilting the mold board to dump the sand and casting therefrom while theflask is retained in position by chains depending from the frame.

The invention is best understood from a consideration of the followingdetailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings,

nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confinedto the disclosure but is susceptible of such changes and modificationsas shall define no departure from the salient features of the inventionas expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side view in elevation nal vertical sectiontaken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the mechanism for movingthe shaker along a track,

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the shaker mechanism in anoperative position for dumping the castin from each. other.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse vertical section throughthe hollow mold seat and showing the mold board in a dumping position,

Figure 7 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 6 but disclosingthe mold board in an inoperative position on the mold seat,

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of the board,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section through the lifting meansfor a section of the track and the operating means for tilting the moldboard.

Figure 10 is a side view in elevation of the lifting means in loweredposition, 7

Figure 11 is the same side view of the lifting ,means in an elevatedposition, and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical section of the lifting means takenalong the line |2-I2 of Figure 11. 7

Referring more particularly to the drawing, l5 designates a plurality ofmain posts arranged in a vertical plane running centrally of the moldshake-out apparatus. The posts are secured to the floor of a building orother support by angle irons l6 and are connected at the upper endthereof to spaced auxiliary posts I! by metal brace bars l8 adjacent theends of the apparatus. Brackets (Fig. 1) project upwardly from the postsll for rigidly supporting anupper track 2|. The sides of the track areparallel and are connected together by horizontal bars 22 braced bystrap irons 23 and 24 (Fig; 3) bolted to other auxiliary posts Ila'located between the posts I 'I which aid in carrying the curved ends ofthe track.

Thetrack 2| is in the form of an inverted channel member which includesstraight parallel portion and 3| and-curved end portions 32 and 33 (Fig.2). Flanges 34 are turned inwardly from the lower edges of the sidewalls of the channel with the free edges of said flanges being spacedSaid flanges form a track for carriages 35 and 35a forsuspending asupport 36 carrying a hollowv mold seat 37. The carriagei's attached toan endless chain 38 received within the annular track 2|. A sprocket 39.driven by 'a shaft 4|] projects-through a slot 41 formed in the upperface of the track and operates the chain 38. A,m0tor 42 revolves theshaft. The track 2| and the carriages 35 form, in effect, an overheadtrolley.

The support 36 is suspended from thecarriage 35 as shown in Figures 1,3, 4 and 5. Each carriage includes a pair of'parallel axles 45, a pairof rollers 46 for each axle with the axles being j connected together bya rod 41. A metal strap 50 has a hook or eye at the upper end to receivethe rod 41 and which eye is located midway between the pair of axles ofeach carriage. The lower ends of the straps are connected by bolts 5| tosemi circular plates 52 which are bolted to opposite faces of the upperend of the support 36. The upper straight edges 53 of said plates ridein close association with the flanges 34 of the track 2|. A series ofrollers 54 are carried by shafts 55 to support the chain 38 beneath thesprocket 39 (Fig. 4). Such rollers may be spaced at intervals beneaththe chain.

A beam 56 is secured rigidly intermediate its ends thereof at 51 on thevertical support 36 (Figs. 1 and 5). A bar 58 is rigidly securedintermediate its ends to the outer end of the beam. Expansion springs 59are connected between the bar and a bar 60 forming the outer end of aframe 6| which includes side arms 62 joined at the inner free ends by arod 63 received by a journal 64 in the support 36 for pivotally mountingsaid frame. Chains 65 are suspended in pairs from the ends of the bar 60and are provided with hooks 66 for engagement with a mold board 61 orwith a flask (not shown) for a purpose which will be explainedpresently. The frame 6| in effect is a lever.

A latching device generally designated by the numeral I includes an armII pivoted at I2 on the bar 69 and is held in place against the support36 by a guide I3. A bell-crank I4 is pivoted at I on the lower free endof the arm 'II and is provided with a latch 16 engaging a catch I! onthe support 36. An arm I8 of the bell-crank is connected by a spring I9to a finger 80 having an angular extension 8| pivoted at 82 on the latchI6. A spring 83 connects said finger with the support 36 and tends topull the free end of the finger downwardly against a lug or tripping'device 85 on a cylindrical strut 86 for a purpose which will bedescribed presently. However, it may be stated here that the springs I9and 03 cause the latch I6 to be released readily to avoid frictionduring the dumping action.

In Figures 9 to 12 inclusive is illustrated a hydraulic jack for notonly raising the cylinder 96 and the associated elements but for raisinga section 99 of a track 9| which is located in a horizontal plane lowerthan the plane of the track 2| and which forms a guiding support forsaid cylinder. A piston rod 92 projecting vertically from a jackcylinder 93 has its upper end in engagement with the movable tracksection 90 which is connected at its ends to rods 94 movably mounted invertically disposed guides 95 fastened to the floor of a building. Thecylinder 93 is also mounted on the floor of the building and isconnected to the guides by straps 96 braced by rods 91. A piston notshown is rigid with the lower end of the rod 92. The hydraulic jack isquick-acting and is supplied with fluid under pressure above and belowthe piston. The usual valves (not shown) for controlling the flow of thefluid are actuated by the operator.

The lower end of the cylinder 86 is closed and a compression spring I00has its lower end seated on the bottom of said cylinder while the upperend is secured rigidly to the lower end of a rod 1 IOI passing throughthe upper closed end I02 of the cylinder. The upper end of said rod(Figs. 1 and 5) is bolted to the inner end of the beam 56. Arms I03extend laterally from said end of the beam to which are secured guiderods I04. A cross head I05 extends rigidly in opposite directions fromthe closed end I02 of the vertical cylinder 86 and is provided withpassages at the free ends thereof to receive the lower ends of the rodsI04. Nuts I06 threaded onto the lower ends of the rods provide limitstops for downward movement of the strut 86 away from the beam 56. Thearms I03 and I05 are in the same vertical plane.

Figures 5 to 8 inclusive illustrate in more detail the construction ofthe hollow mold seat 31 and the mold board 61. The mold seat has arectangular bottom IIO, parallel side walls III and II2 and parallel endwalls H3. The lower end of the support 36 is secured to the side wallIII by a U-shaped member II4 which is riveted or bolted to the supportand to said side wall. The side wall has a pair of notches II5 deepenough to receive neatly intermediate portions of a pair of arms III;which have the inner ends thereof rigid with the lower end of thecylinder 86. Each of the end walls II3 are also provided with notchesII! and M8 to receive respectively the free ends of a pair of rods II9and I20 carried by the mold board 61.

The mold board consists of a pair of metal plates which are connectedtogether adjacent the ends thereof by angle irons I2I. A reinforcingmember I22 is riveted to the intermediate portions of said plates. Thedepending vertical flanges I23 of the angle irons are bored to receiveneatly the rods II9 and I20. A cleat I24 is secured to the under face ofthe board 61 for engagement with the upper edge of the side wall I I2.

The inner free ends of the arms I I6 are in engagement with the underface of the mold board 61. Bearings I25 are disposed inwardly of thefree ends of said arms and project downwardly therefrom. These bearingscarry a rod I26 which runs longitudinally in the seat 31. A pair oftongs each having arms I30 and I3| have bearings on the opposite ends ofthe rod I26 so that the respective jaws I32 and I33 on the upper ends ofthe legs will clamp over the rod II9. The leg I30 of each pair of tongsis connected by a spring I35 to a pin I36 on the adjacent end wall I I3while a spring I3'I connects the corresponding end of leg I3I to thispin.

A carriage I40 (Figures 1, 5 and 12) is secured to the bottom of thecylinder 86 below the connection between the radial arms I I6 and saidbottom. This carriage includes an inverted U- shaped member havinginturned flanges I4I on the lower edges of the side walls of said U-shaped member. The inner edges of said flanges are spaced apart toclear the piston rod 92. Grooved rollers I42, Figure 12, mounted onvertical axles I43 carried by the top of the U-shaped member and theflanges I4I receive the flanged portions I44 of the movable section andthe track 9| as the cylinder 86 and the attached elements are carriedaround the annular track. While the section 90 of the track is raisedand lowered each time the cylinder 86 reaches said section nevertheless,the flanges I44 of the section must aline with the corresponding flangesof the track 9| when the carriage I40 continues its travel away from thehydraulic jack 93. Brackets I45 (Fig. 1) connected between the posts I1and the lower track 9| support said track at spaced points.

In Figure 5, a special construction of reinforcement for the curvedendportions of the upper track 2| is illustrated. In this arrangement aU-shaped member I48 has the free ends of its legs riveted or welded tointermediate portions of the bar 22 and suspended therefrom. Thebridging portion I49 of the U-shaped member rests uponthe beam assess?56 when the support 36 and associated mechanism is brought to theunloading station.

Referring more particularly to Figure 2, it will be seen that there arethree stations at various points along the tracks I. A pouring station55% is located at one parallel side portion ofthe track. A pourersplatform tilt is at the pouring station which carries the operator atthe same speed as the moving mold board 6'1. A'cooling station IE2 isdisposed at a curved end of the track and the casting is cooled furtherwhen said casting travels from the cooling station along theotherparallel side portionof the track to the dumping station E53. A moldingstation 5 1 is located between stations we and I53.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The chain 38 and likewisethe carriage 35 and the elements supported thereby are driven at apredetermined speed by the sprocket '39. The pourers platform i5! isdriven at the same speed permitting the operator to pour the materialswithout requiring him to follow the moving mold board which carries theflask.

After the pouring operation, the carriage passes to the cooling stationI 52 when the usual weights are removed and the latching device it isconnected with the catch '57 on the support 35. The hooks 55 are thenattached to the flask. The carriage then moves to the shake-out stationE53.

During the third step, the operator opens the controlling valve for thehydraulic jack 93, causing the movable section fill of the track to beraised together with the carriage Mil, cylinder 52% and the radial armsHi3. As soon as the lug 85 on the cylinder trips the latch "it from thecatch 1'! on the support 36 the springs 59 are released and lift theflask from the casting on mold board (ii. The mold board 6'! is tiltedby the free ends of the arms as shown in Figure 5 whereby the castingand sand are discharged from the mold board. This operation separatesthe sand and casting from the flask and board. When the board Bl istilted by the elevation of the arms i It, the springs i 55 and i3?(Figs. 5, 6 and 7) pull the legs 83!] and l's'l towards each othercausing the respective jaws M2 and 33 to close over the ends of the rodi l 9 and limit the upward movement of the inner edge of the board.These tong arms H38 and HI cooperate with the cleat to prevent theunseating of the board from the hollow seat lowered as shown in Figurethe springs 535 and I31 are relieved of the tension to spread therespective legs i355 and 13E for releasing the pairs of jaws I32 and H53from the ends of the rod I I9.

What I claim:

1. Metal casting apparatus comprising an upper annular track, an annularlower track, means supporting said tracks in vertically spacedsubstantially parallel relationship, a trolley suspended from andmovable around said upper track, a support suspended from said trolley,a hollow mold seat carried by said support, a tiltable mold boardsupported on said mold seat, a beam secured to said support above saidmold seat and extending to opposite sides of said support substantiallyperpendicular thereto, springs suspended from said beam above said moldseat, chains suspended from said springs and connectible at their lowerends to a mold flask, said springs having a strength suflicient to lifta flask from said mold board, a link connected at one end to saidchains, latch means releasably connecting the other end of said link tosaid support for holding said chains in lowered position with said Whenthe free ends of the arms H5 are springs expanded, an upright memberdisposed adjacent and substantially parallel to said support, meansslidably supporting the lower end of said upright member on said lowertrack for movement therearound, means slidably connecting said member atits upper end to said beam, a movable section in said lower track, ajack disposed below said movable section for elevating said movabletrack section and said upright mem-- her when said member is positionedover said movable section, means on said upright member engageable withsaid latch means to release said link from said support and free saidsprings to contract and lift a flask from a casting on said mold boardwhen said upright member is elevated by said jack, and arms extendingfrom said upright member under the adjacent side of said mold board fortilting said mold board when said upright member is elevated to therebydischarge a casting from the mold board.

2. Metal casting apparatus comprising a lower annular, track, an upperannular track, means supporting said upper track above said lower track,a trolley suspended from said upper track and movable therearound,casting supporting and discharging means comprising a support suspendedfrom the trolley, a mold seat carried by said support, a mold boardtiltably mounted on said mold seat, springs suspended from said supportabove said mold seat, means suspended from the lower ends of saidsprings for connecting said springs to a flask supported on said moldboard, latch means connected to said springs at the lower ends thereofand connectible to said support for releasably latching said springs inextended condition, an upright member positioned adjacent said support,means supporting the lower end of said upright member on said lowertrack for movement therearound, means slidably connecting the upper endof said upright member to said trolley means connected to said lowertrack for elevating said member to release said latch means from saidsupport to thereby free said springs to contract and lift a flask fromsaid mold board, and means extending from said member under the adjacentedge of said mold board for simultaneously tilting the latter todischarge a casting therefrom.

3. In continuous casting apparatus including a lower annular track, anupper annular track, means supporting said upper track above said lowertrack, and a trolley suspended from said upper track and movabletherearound, casting supporting and discharging means comprising a 5support suspended from the trolley, a mold seat carried by said support,a mold board tiltably mounted on said mold seat, springs suspended fromsaid support above said mold seat, means suspended from the lower endsof said springs for connecting said springs to a flask supported on saidmold board, latch means connected to said sprihgs at the lower endsthereof and connectible to said support for releasably latching saidsprings in extended condition, an upright member positioned adjacentsaid support, means supporting the lower end of said upright member onsaid lower track for movement therearound, said lower track having avertically movable section therein, means connected to said movablesection of the lower track for elevating said movable track section andsaid upright member, means on said upright member engageable with saidlatch means to release said latch means from said support to therebyfree said springs to contract and lift a flask from said mold board,means I extending from said member under the adjacent edge of said moldboard for simultaneously tilting the latter to discharge a castingtherefrom, and means carried by said seat and engageable with said moldboard to limit tilting movement of the latter.

4. Metal casting apparatus comprising an annular lower track having avertically movable section therein, a jack disposed below said movablesection for raising the latter, an annular upper track disposed aboveand substantially parallel to said lower track, a carriage supported onand movable around said lower track, a trolley suspended from andmovable around said upper track, an elongated support secured at one endto said trolley and depending therefrom, a mold seat rigidly secured tosaid support near the lower end of the latter, a mold board pivotallymounted on said mold seat for tilting movement relative to said seat, astrut secured at one end to said carriage and upstanding therefrom, abeam secured to said support adjacent said trolley and extendingsubstantially perpendicular to said support above said strut, meansslidably connecting the upper end of said strut to said beam andproviding a limit stop for downward movement of said strut away fromsaid beam, a compression spring acting between said beam and saidcarriage resiliently urging said carriage downwardly away from saidbeam, tension springs suspended from said beam, strands suspended fromthe lower ends of said tension springs and engageable at their lowerends with a flask supported on said mold board for lifting such flaskwhen said springs are free to contract, a link connected at one end tothe lower end of said tension springs, a latch engageable between saidlink and said support for releasably holding said link in position tomaintain said tension springs under tension, an abutment carried by saidstrut and engageable with said latch to release said link and free saidtension springs for contraction when said carriage is on said movablelower track section and said strut is raised by operation of said jack,and an arm projecting from said strut and engaging said mold board totilt the latter upon upward movement of said strut for dumping a castingfrom said mold board when said tension springs are freed to contract andlift a casting enclosing flask from the mold board, said compressionspring being effective to restore said strut and said movable tracksection to their original position after said jack has been operated.

SAM J. McCAIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 501,331 Doolittle July 11, 1893769,322 Packer Sept. 6, 1904 1,159,707 Peterson Nov. 9, 1915 1,734,174McCabe Nov. 5, 1929 1,873,096 Woody et a1 Aug. 23, 1932 2,431,174 HenryNov. 18, 1947 2,466,650 Walker et al Apr. 5, 1949

